KOHIMA: After two decades, Nagaland will conduct urban local bodies (ULB) elections, announced the government after a consultation with apex tribal bodies.
Post the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister T R Zeliang, while expressing optimism that the Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023 would be passed by the Assembly to become law, told the press on Monday that a special session will be convened by the Governor on November 9 for this purpose.
Zeliang noted that while there were initial objections to the 33% women’s reservation in ULBs, the tribal bodies have now agreed to include it.
However, he added that reservation for the post of ULB chairperson has been removed and proposal to levy taxes on land and properties has been deleted from the municipal bill.
“Only indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland will be eligible to contest ULB elections,” he was quoted as saying.
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The need for ULB elections in Nagaland has been long-standing, with the last polls held in 2004.
Subsequent elections were postponed initially due to the unresolved Naga peace talks and later because of the 33% reservation for women, as mandated by the Supreme Court. This reservation was met with opposition from tribal bodies.
The opposition from tribal bodies and civil society organizations had been rooted in the belief that women’s reservation and land property taxation were contrary to customary Naga practices and Article 371(A) of the Constitution, which guarantees special rights to Nagas concerning land and property.
During the March session of the Assembly, the previous Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001 was repealed, paving the way for a new law that would consider the views of tribal bodies and civil society organisations, particularly regarding the 33% women’s reservation and taxation on land and properties.
Previous attempts by the government to conduct ULB elections were met with staunch resistance, leading to incidents of violence, loss of life, and damage to government properties and offices in 2017.
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In March this year, the Neiphiu Rio-led government had also announced elections with a 33% women’s reservation, but the plan was cancelled following renewed opposition.
The Act of 2001 was repealed during that time.
In a previous consultative meeting held on September 1 with tribal bodies and civil society organisations, it was agreed that ULB elections would proceed with a women’s quota, and the government would introduce the new Act in the Assembly’s monsoon session.
